Calcutta, shown here in 1945, was an important port during World War II.

The discovery of the nearby Chandraketugarh,[5] an archaeological site has proved that people have lived there for over two millennia.[6] The history of Kolkata begins when the English East India Company arrived in 1690. Job Charnock, an administrator with the Company is traditionally known as the founder of this city.[7] However some academics say that Charnock is not the city's founder.[8]